March 2, 1953 – August 18, 2026
Marilyn Rae Hodges, age 73, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Marilyn was born on March 2, 1953, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Charles and Sharon Adcox. At the age of four, Marilyn’s mother passed away, and she and her two sisters were given up for adoption to family members. Marilyn was blessed to be adopted by Lee and Erna Adcox, who, along with their daughter, Chris, gave her a loving and wonderful home.
Marilyn graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School in 1971 and attended Johnson County Community College, where she met the love of her life, Bruce Hodges. Marilyn and Bruce were married on September 8, 1973, and together they built a beautiful life and raised three daughters: Jodi, Holly, and Shelly. They were blessed with seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Marilyn was a devoted stay-at-home mother while her daughters were young. Once her daughters were established in school, she began a long and fulfilling career in the medical field, working for Kaiser Permanente, Humana, Sabates Eye Center, and Hunkeler Eye Institute. Marilyn had a genuine heart for helping others and always put patients first, doing everything she could to meet their needs and make a difference in their lives.
Marilyn and Bruce were longtime members of United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. Marilyn had a strong and unwavering faith and generously supported many Christian organizations. She loved her church and especially enjoyed attending women’s Christian conferences, where her faith continued to grow and flourish.
Marilyn was a warm and fiercely loyal friend who had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel seen, valued, and loved. Whether it was a phone call after a difficult day or offering a thoughtful gesture on a special occasion, she always made time to listen, share laughter, and lift others up, especially during difficult times. She had a special knack for knowing exactly when a friend or family member needed encouragement and never hesitated to provide it. Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering support touched the lives of so many. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Above all else, Marilyn loved her family. She cherished every opportunity to spend time with the people she loved and took great pride in the family she and Bruce created together. Through her words, her actions, and the example she set, Marilyn showed what it means to love and care for one another. Her lasting gift is the strong, loyal, and loving family that she built and nurtured throughout her life.
Marilyn is survived by her husband, Bruce, of the home; her three daughters, Jodi McCall (Greg) of Leawood, Kansas; Holly Grimes (Travis) of Overland Park, Kansas; and Shelly Hodges of Kansas City, Missouri; and her seven grandchildren: Alex Spear (Jasmine) of Shawnee, Kansas; Benjamin Grimes (Nadia) of Lenexa, Kansas; Sophia Lail of Kansas City, Missouri; Hailey Grimes of Overland Park, Kansas; Corbin McCall of Leawood, Kansas; Griffin Lail of Kansas City, Missouri; Maggie McCall of Leawood, Kansas; and two great-grandchildren, Josie and Layla Spear of Shawnee, Kansas
She is also survived by her three sisters, Chris Augsten (Peter) of Kaufbeuren, Germany; Debbie Van Waters (Karl) of Lenexa, Kansas; and Rhonda Henshaw (Joe) of Arkansas; her brother, Bruce Adcox (Teresa) of Kansas City, Kansas; and her niece, Tracy Taylor (Chuck) of Kansas City, Missouri.
Marilyn leaves behind a legacy of faith, compassion, love, and devotion to her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, but her memory will live on in the family she loved so dearly and in the many lives she touched throughout her life.
A visitation and memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, at Leawood Presbyterian Church, 2715 W. 83rd Street, Leawood, Kansas 66206. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a memorial service to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to the KC Hospice House in Marilyn’s honor.
Obituary published by Highland Park Funeral Home & Crematory.
